Global Aging Index: Measuring Population Health and Equity
Author: Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health
Published: 2017/07/26 - Updated: 2026/01/17
Publication Type: Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Calculators - Charts - Related Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This research, developed by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, presents an evidence-based tool for evaluating how nations respond to demographic shifts in their older populations. The barometer tracks five key indicators - productivity and engagement, well-being, equity, cohesion, and security - across 30 countries, offering policymakers and researchers reliable metrics to compare national performance and identify areas needing improvement. Unlike earlier assessment tools that focused narrowly on economic factors or excluded certain developed nations, this index captures the full spectrum of social and economic conditions affecting older adults, making it particularly valuable for disability advocates, gerontologists, public health officials, and aging individuals seeking to understand which societies best support their older citizens through accessible services, financial stability, and reduced inequality - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, with the support of The John A. Hartford Foundation, have developed a new barometer that estimates how countries are adapting to the dramatic increases in the number and proportion of older persons.
Main Content
The Index is composed of specific measures across five social and economic Indicators that reflect the status and wellbeing of older persons in a country and which can be followed over time and used to compare across nations.
"Now that previously unimagined numbers of older persons are living longer it is critical that we shift from our prior sole focus on the characteristics of individuals and their immediate environments to one that includes a strategy for the entire society to successfully adapt to an aging population" said John Rowe, MD, Julius B. Richmond Professor of Health Policy and Aging, Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School of Public Health, who led the interdisciplinary team of researchers.
Developed for 30 countries at the outset, the Index can track national sources of data for countries with aged populations including the United States and Western Europe. A sample analysis of the data shows that the five countries in the index coping best with their aging populations are: Norway, Sweden, the United States, the Netherlands and Japan. (See chart)
"Interestingly, the Index demonstrates that the United States - despite general problems with inequity and social cohesion - has done well in keeping older Americans financially secure, productive, and engaged," noted Dana Goldman, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Leonard D. Schaeffer Director's Chair at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.
The John A. Hartford Index of Societal Aging's five indicators provide new context for measuring the health of aging populations including an evidence-based metric to assess effectiveness over time and across many countries. Earlier indexes either made comparisons for a select group of industrialized nations only, sometimes excluding the U.S., were heavily weighted on economic metrics, such as late life labor force participation, did not fully capture inequalities within the advanced developed aging societies or did not measure many other characteristics of an aging society.
"The Index provides an accurate look at how well societies are adapting to this aging challenge," said Goldman. "Utilizing reliable and sensitive economic and social indicators that are widely available, the tool allows countries to take a broader view of both current conditions and likely future demographic realities."
Elements of The Hartford Index
- Productivity and Engagement - Measures connectedness within and outside the workforce.
- Well-being - Measures the state of being healthy.
- Equity - Measures gaps in well-being and economic security between the haves and have-nots.
- Cohesion - Measures across generations and social connectedness
- Security - Measures support for retirement and physical safety.
"Failure to adapt to aging is a risky strategy for a country," noted Rowe. "If we neglect to develop and implement effective policies we will be left with a society rife with intergenerational tensions, characterized by enormous gaps between the haves and the have-nots, and unable to provide needed goods and services for any of its members--especially a progressively older and more dependent population. The good news is this gloomy scenario is avoidable."
In addition to Drs. Rowe and Goldman, the Index was presented at the conference by Cynthia Chen, a postdoctoral fellow at the USC Schaeffer Center who worked on the project. Other members of the MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society served as advisors to the project.*
* Toni Antonucci, Lisa Berkman, Axel Böersch-Supan, Frank Furstenberg, James Jackson, Martin Kohli, S. Jay Olshansky, John Rother, and Julie Zissimopoulos
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: As populations worldwide continue to age at unprecedented rates, the need for accurate, multidimensional assessment tools becomes increasingly urgent. This index offers more than just statistical comparison - it provides a roadmap for countries to identify policy gaps and societal shortcomings before they calcify into intergenerational conflict or economic crisis. What makes this research particularly striking is its revelation that success in supporting aging populations doesn't follow a single formula; Norway's strong social cohesion, America's economic security for seniors, and Japan's cultural integration of older citizens each represent different pathways to the same goal. For individuals with disabilities and seniors navigating healthcare systems, retirement planning, and community engagement, understanding these national rankings can inform personal decisions about where to age, which policies to advocate for, and what realistic expectations to hold for their own futures in an aging society - Disabled World (DW).Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and published on 2017/07/26, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.